Ball and roller bearing.



H. B. KEIPER.

BALL AND ROLLER BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18, 1910.

Patented July 11, 1911.

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7 a affomwt d UNITED STATES PATENT orrrori HENRY B. KEIPER. OFLANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

BALL'AND ROLLER BEARING.

T 0 all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, HENRY B. Kntrrn, a citizen of the United States.residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Balland Roller Bearings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to anti-friction bearings. and more particularlyto that type of hearings in which concentric rings are used withinterposed balls or rollers for sustaining radial pressure or thrust.and which are known in the art as annular ball bearings.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved bearing ofthe type referred to, in which annular series of balls and rollers areassembled in compact form between concentric rings or hearing members,for sustaining radial pressure, the device being independent of thestructure in which it is designed to be used and capable of beinghandled as a unit without requiring any extraneous separating means tokeep the balls and rollers apart; the balls being adapted to serve asseparators for the rollers. andvice-versa, thus dispensing with spacersor other separating devices. such as are ordinarily employed to separateballs or rollers. v

A further object is to produce a device of the character referred towhich shall be simple and inexpensive in construction and etlieient anddurable in practical use.

The invention will first be hereinafter more particularly described,with retercnce to the accompanying drawings, which are to betaken as apart of this specification. and then pointed out in the claims at theend of the description.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a side elevation of a ball androller bearing embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionalelevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse section Fig. t is a detailfragmentary view; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the axiallyconnected or double rollers; Fig. 6, is a 'detail fragmentary sectionalview of a modification ot the inner ring or sleeve; Fig. 7 is a detailfragmentary sectional View of a portioriof the outer ring. Fig. 8 is adetail fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of bearing, inwhich the axial connect ons f the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 15,

Patented July 11, 1911.

1910. Serial No. 556,204.

rollers are loose and adapted to serve as idlers for separating theballs.

In said drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to denotecorresponding parts in different views. the letter A may denote an outercylindrical bearing member or ring within which is placed an innerbearing member or sleeve B, and between said members are placed two rowsor annular series of rollers C. C. and a single row or annular series ofballs 1) between the two rows of rollers. The rollers are preferablyconnected in pairs by axial portions E, which may be rigid therewith andconcave in form. being joined to annular projections or bosses on theinner sides of the rollers, so as to provide shoulders of sutficientwidth to prevent the balls from touching the rollers. while the latterare brought close together with a ball bet-ween. The outer ring orhearing member A is formed or provided on its inner side with parallelmarginal annular grooves a, a, forming raeeways tor the rollers, andwith an intermediate annular groove (Z, for'n'iing a raceway for theballs between the two rows of rollers. adjacent pairs of which areseparated by the balls to prevent contact of their oppositely rotatingconfronting surfaces. The rollers likewise separate the balls. which fitinto the concavities of the axial connections with opposite pairs ofwhich they contact at diametrically opposite points. The inner ring orsleeve B may have at one end an exterior annular flange 7) and at theother end an annular exterior recess to receive a spring F, which may besnapped into said recess, when the sleeve is inserted in the openingencircled by the rollers and balls, to prevent the sleeve from beingwithdrawn accidentally when the structure is removed from the bearings,the flange 6 serving to prevent endwise movement in one direction andthespring F preventing endwise movement in the opposite direction.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modified form of sleeve with means to preventaccidental displacement or withdrawal thereof, such means consisting ofa slightly raised portion f at the end of the sleeve opposite the flange7). the diameter of the sleeve between the part f and the flange 7).being slightly less than that of said raised portion. so that the sleevemay be inserted by pressure sufficient to force the balls over saidportion f, by virtue of the resiliency of the metal of which the tworings are composed. If desired, the slightly raised end portion 7 mightbe 1n the form of a threaded nut screwed on the sleeve instead ofintegral therewith.

In Fig. 8 is shown a' modification in which the rollers are loose ontheir axial connections, the latter, which are denoted by the letter Ein the drawings, being adapted to rotate either forwardly or backwardlyhaving the function of idlers serving as separators for the balls. v

In some cases, it may be desirable to reduce the size of either. theball or roller ele ments, so that the one or the other may serve solelyas separators, in which case the other ball or roller elements wouldcarry the load. The bearing surface of the inner ring or sleeve isplain'or smooth, reducing to a minimum the points of contact with theballs and rollers, and the rollers and balls of each row are kept inalinement and adapt ed to travel in the same track by virtue of theraceways or grooves in the bearing surface of the outer ring, or viceversa. As shown, the bottoms of the marginal grooves a, o, are fiat,while the intermediate groove (1 is concave, but the form of the groovemight be varied, for instance, it might be V-shaped in cross-section,and the periph eries of the rollers might be correspondingly shaped, ifdesired.

I thus provide a very simple, efiicient and durable independent annularball and roller bearing in which the pressure or weight is distributedbetween the rollers and balls, and both balls and rollers separated insuch manner as to produce the desired results without using spacers orother extraneous separating devices, which are usually composed ofseparable parts secured together by means of screws that are liable towork loose and drop out causing breakage of the balls or the bearing.Such extraneous separating devices also produce much friction and wear.It will also be observed that the assembled parts of the bearing areheld together by the cooperative action of the outer and inner rings orbearing members without the use of a screw or bolt, this beingaccomplished by virtue of the annular grooves in the outer ring withshoulders abutting a circular series of rollers at each side thereof,and means at opposite sides or ends of the inner ring also abutting saidcircular series of rollers, said means at the same time enabling theinner ring to be withdrawn, whereupon the bearing will fall apart. Myimproved bearing is capable of sustaining great pressure while greatlyreducing friction, the weight of the load being carried or sustainedpartly by the balls and partly by the rollers at either side, and eachball or roller element serves as a separating means for other ball orroller aeaeao elements, keeping oppositely rotating surfaces of theballs and rollers apart and thus reducing friction. The balls beingcentrally disposed, the pressure at either side thereof is taken by therollers, thus equalizing the pressure between the rollers and balls andproviding a very eflicient and durable hearing.

It may be desirable in some cases to substitute a third annular seriesof rollers for the annular series of balls, in which case axial portionsof the intermediate series of rollers should project into the spacesbetween the outer rollers, so as to keep the latter apart and preventthe intermediate rollers from canting. WVhile the intermediate series ofballs are designed to sustain pressure and at the same time serve as ameans for separating the rollers, in some circumstances they might be ofreduced size to adapt them to serve merely as a means for separatingadjacent pairs of rollers. In such case, the balls would be looselyconfined between adjacent pairs of rollers in contact with their axialconnections, which, if rigid, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings,would cause the balls to rotate in a direction opposite to the directionof rotation of the rollers. hen the load or pressure is distributedbetween the rollers and balls, both balls and'rollers rotate in the samedirection and the points of contact are so slight that there is littlefriction.

Various changes in details might be made without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not desire to be limited tothe particular construction shown, although the forms illustrated aredesirable and well adapted to produce the desi d results.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1 l. A unit-structure bearing comprising concentric rings havingconfronting bearing surfaces, rollers arranged in concentric rowsbetween said rings, and a row of balls between said rollers, adjacentpairs of rollers being held apart by a ball, one of said rings havingannular parallel grooves in its hearing surface, providing a racewvayfor one row of rollers at each side, and an intermediate race-way forsaid row of balls, the

viding a race-way for one row of rollers at each side of lts center, andan lntermedlate race-way for said row of balls, the other ring havingmeans thereon at opposite ends cooperating with said grooved ring inholding a row of balls between said rows of rollers,

each ball separating adjacent pairs of rollers, the bearing surface ofthe outer ring having annular parallel grooves therein providing arace-way for one row of rollers at each side of its-center, and anintermediate raceway for said row of balls, the inner ring having meansthereon at opposite ends 00- operating with the grooved outer ring inholding the assembled parts together, said means enabling the inner ringto be withdrawn, thereby permitting the bearing to fall apart.

4:. A unit-structure bearing comprising concentric rings, rows ofrollers between said rings, and a row of balls between said rows ofrollers, the individual balls being arranged between'and holding apartadjacent pairs of rollers, the outer ring having on the inner sidethereof a series of annular grooves, providing race-ways for saidrollers and balls, the inner ring having means thereon at opposite endscooperating with said outer ring in holding the assembled partstogether, said means enabling the inner ring to be Withdrawn, therebypermitting the bearing to fall apart.

5. A unit-structure ball and roller bearing comprising concentric rings,rollers arranged in concentric rows between said rings, and a row ofballs between said rows of rollers, the individual balls being arrangedbetween and holding apart adjacent pairs of rollers, the outer ringhaving on the inner side thereof a series of annular grooves, providingraceways for said rollersand balls, and the outer surface or peripheryof the inner ring being smooth and having means thereon cooperating withthe internally grooved outer ring in holding the assembled partstogether.

6. A unit-structure ball and roller bearing comprising concentric ringswith rollers arranged in concentric rows between said rings, one row ateach side thereof, and a row of balls between said rows of rollers, theindividual balls being arranged between and holding apart adjacent pairsof rollers, the outer ring having on the inner side thereof a series ofannular grooves, providing raceways for said rollers and balls, and theouter face or periphery of the inner ring being smooth and having aflange at one end and means at the other end thereof against which therollers abut to prevent endwise movement, the assembled parts being heldtogether by the cooperative action of the two rings with provision forwithdrawing one ring and thereby permitting the bearing to fall apart.

7. A unit-structure ball and roller bearing comprising concentric ringsand concentric rows of balls and rollers between the rings, there beinga row of balls between rows of rollers, the balls separating adjacentpairs of rollers, and the inner ring having an annular flange at one endand a slightly raised portion at the other end thereof to permitinsertion by pressure endwise through the opening encircled by said rowsof rollers and balls, and prevent endwise movement after forciblyinserting the same.' 8. A unit-structure ball and roller bearingcomprising concentric rings and interposed rows of rollers and balls,the outer ring having on the inner side thereof near each edge or marginan annular groove having a substantially flat bearing surface, and anannular concave groove between said marginal grooves, the inner ringbeing exteriorly flanged at one end and having means at the other endthereof, for confining the ring in the opening encircled by the rollersand balls, the assembled parts being held to gether by the cooperativeaction of the two rings, one of which is removable endwise for takin thebearing apart.

9. i unit-structure bearing comprising outer and inner rings whoseconfronting bearing surfaces present, on one ring, a series of annulargrooves providing raceways for rollers and balls, and on the other ringa smooth surface, a plurality of annular series of rollers between saidrings having independently revoluble axial connections, and an annularseries of balls arranged between two annular series of rollers and theindividual balls arranged between and separating two adjacent pairs ofrollers by contact with said axial connections.

10. A unit-structure bearing comprising concentric rings and' rows ofrollers and balls between, the outer ring having raceways for saidrollers and balls on the inner side thereof consistin of annular grooveshaving substantially t at bottoms and separated by a concave annulargroove, and the inner ring having a smooth exterior bearing surface witha flange at one end and means at the other end thereof, for confiningthe ring in the opening encircled by the rollers and balls, the tworings serving to hold the assembled parts together, and said meanspermitting the removal of the inner grooves on the inner side thereof, arow of balls in one of said annular grooves and a 1:11' grneves; Thebottoms of the hitter device said means rendering,- 1he inner ring" 10remevnh1e for hiking the hearing apart.

In testimony whereof I n11ix my signature, grooves being 1191 10 reeeivethe peripheries in presence of two WiUlQSSQS.

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